Nov 09

13

Last Tuesday the Spanish health authorities believe swine flu epidemic will reach its peak in late November before it starts to decline.

Health authorities believe “the peak” will be “in the last days of November,” Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez told reporters.

But she admitted that it was “difficult to predict” how the epidemic would develop. Spain announced that swine flu vaccinations would begin on 16th November, later than in many other European countries, including the UK.

The groups that will be given priority are pregnant women, health workers, members of the security forces and the fire and prison services, and those in high-risk groups, including those with heart conditions and respiratory diseases.

The government plans to have enough stocks of the A(H1N1) flu vaccine to inoculate 60 percent of the population. More than 5,700 people have died of swine flu worldwide since the virus was first uncovered in April, with most of the deaths recorded in the Americas, according to the World Health Organisation.

At least 63 of the deaths have been in Spain, according the latest toll by the health ministry, issued October 22. Spain was the first European country to confirm a case of the virus.

Nov 09

13

PAY-AS-YOU-GO mobile phones are becoming more and more popular, especially with youngsters because it enables them to know exactly how much they are spending by the day.

From last Monday (9th Nov), many of them will have been shocked to find their mobiles not functioning.
The reason is that they have not registered with their network providers, despite a government instruction in 2007, which gave them two years to comply with the ruling.

Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Minister for the Interior, says they will still be able to reactivate their numbers and recover their lines if they provide their network operators with personal details within six months.

The move was aimed at preventing terrorists and organised criminal gangs from being untraceable by using pay-as-you-go mobiles.

Now, anyone who buys a new phone of this type will automatically be registered, and anyone who has not registered his or her previous number will have 6months to register.

Rubalcaba said the six-month stand-off would enable the “least-informed members of society, such as the young and the elderly” a chance to register.

Nov 09

13

THE British Consulate in Tenerife, together with the Pension, Benefit and Healthcare Team, are holding an Open Day on Monday (16th Nov) at Adeje in the afternoon, and at Arona in the evening.

The officials will be advising on some of the issues which matter most to British residents in Tenerife.
The Pension, Benefit and Healthcare Team will provide essential information on the ex-pats’ entitlements here, and the services their team can offer.

The Adeje session, starting at 2pm, will take place at Casa de Cultura, Calle Principe Pelinor, which is situated in the street behind the Ayuntamiento.

The evening session, from 6pm, will be hosted by the South Tenerife Christian Fellowship, on the first floor of the Apolo Centre, Los Cristianos.

To book a place, please visit http://www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk and click on “Open Days” on the home page. If you experience any problems booking, call 917 146 443

Nov 09

3

Following Sundays tragic events on Los Gigantes beach, when two people
lost their lives, the inquest will undoubtedly begin.

In an interview yesterday, Mayor Gorrín expressed his sadness and regret
at the terrible and unexpected events of the day he also said that
from Monday at noon, three days of mourning will begin for the two
dead women, who it seems, just happened to be in the wrong place at
the wrong time.

He also said that there was a project in place, under the direction of
the Department of Coasts, to stabilise that particular area of the
cliff, which had been cordoned off with tape as a precaution, following
a similar, though much smaller rock fall just weeks ago.

Flowers have been laid at the site by businesses owners of the Los
Gigantes marina who are still in shock at the tragic event.

The beach will now remain closed to the public until further notice.

Meetings are taking place, we will bring you more infomation soon.

Nov 09

1

At approximately 15:30 this afternoon there was a serious rock fall on Los Gigantes beach. News from the Mayor’s office confirms 8 are injured and 2 are dead, one Spanish girl age 22yrs, one English woman 57yrs staying in Calle el Pino on holiday.

Guardia Civil officers, sniffer dogs, Policia Local and volunteers from local fire brigades as far away as Adeje continued well into the evening searching through the rubble for possible more victims.

The English woman who died was Marion Auril O’Hara. She arrived in Los Gigantes yesterday with her son to celebrate a 60th birthday in the family. Her son was in the sea swimming when the incident occurred.

The tide was high, the weather perfect and the beach was packed with sun worshipers, both residents and tourists, enjoying a lazy afternoon. A spokes man said it was fortunate that more were not injured or killed.

It is rumoured that there have been a number of smaller rock falls in recent days and questions are now being asked as to why the area was not cordoned off adequately.

Aug 09

1

I’m considering myself very fortunate at the moment. Whilst Los Gigantes sizzles in this heat wave I’m lucky enough to be able to cool off twice a day in a very pleasant 23° diving beneath the waves off the coast of Los Gigantes.

Temperatures in the shade are reaching a staggering 39° in Los Gigantes and we’re the lucky ones, residents of towns and villages higher up are baking in temperatures over 40°. A staggering 45° was recorded at Guia de Isora making it impossible for those without air conditioning to sleep at nights.

So when will it end? Well it depends which news source you listen to. One source says it will cool down as from today, another predicts record breaking high temperatures tomorrow (Sunday).

Well I’m now off for another dive too cool off again, this time with the amazing stingrays of Los Gigantes.

Jul 09

28

The Tenerife Cabildo have placed a temporary ban on barbeques at the recreational bbq/picnic areas in the forested areas, due to the high risk of fire.

The ban also extends to the lighting of fireworks and burning of agricultural waste. Temperatures are soaring above 30C. The measures will stay in place until further notice.

Teams of workers have been dispatched to seal the public barbecue areas in and around the forests, which ring the island’s Mt.Teide, in particular in the Anaga and Teno national parks.

The Cabildo have also requested that people should, when driving, avoid travelling to the mountains, stay on main roads that are tarred, and avoid forest tracks, and in general take extra care in wooded areas.

Jul 09

19

Families visiting the beaches and marine walks of the boroughs of Arona, Adeje, Santiago del Teide and Puerto de la Cruz, will be able to enjoy various workshops about Tenerife and the art of the Guanches (the first island dwellers) and even take part in Canarian traditional sports such as stick fighting and Canarian wrestling. Families will also be able to enjoy music and entertainment by jugglers, mime artists and puppeteers. The entertainment will be in English as well as Spanish.

The activity plan for 2009-2010 is focussed around the school vacations of the island’s main customers, Britain, Germany, Spain and the Scandinavian countries. Tenerife’s tourism councillor, José Manuel Bermudez pointed out that, “15 per cent of the tourists who travel to Tenerife are accompanied by at least one under 15 year-old, which make the Island a potential family holiday destination”. Families with minors aged 7-15 tend to be more active than the average visitor and particularly enjoy the theme parks and the whale and dolphin watching trips.